Kenneth Anusavice, D.M.D., Ph.D.

Department of Restorative Dental Sciences

Division of Operative Dentistry

Center for Dental Biomaterials

Professor and Chair

UF College of Engineering

Department of Materials Science and Engineering

Joint Professor

Dr. Anusavice is responsible for administering the activities of the center, which include teaching, research, and service. He is the Director for the UF Center for Dental Biomaterials and maintains collaborative links with the Colleges of Engineering, Medicine, and Liberal Arts and Sciences. The center supports research of several clinical departments by providing testing instrumentation including the use of a conventional Instron testing machine and three servohydraulic testing machines. Training in materials science research and on the proper use of instrumentation are provided to faculty, staff, residents, and graduate students in these departments. Because the use of dental biomaterials in clinical practice represents a significant proportion of a dentist’s treatment time, fundamental training in the properties and proper manipulation of preventive and restorative materials is essential to the clinical success of restorative procedures. Thus, the training support provided by center faculty, and the research space and facilities available in the Center for Dental Biomaterials are essential to accomplish this important strategic planning goal.